Rams blow it vs. Bucs, lose 16-13: Instant analysis of Week 9 loss
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The Rams are going to have a hard time recovering from this one. They led the Buccaneers for most of the game, even clinging to a 13-9 lead with less than a minute to play.
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Then Tom Brady woke up and picked apart the Rams’ soft zone coverages, completing pass after pass on the final drive before hitting Cade Otton for a game-winning touchdown with 9 seconds left.
It’s a game both teams needed, but the Rams blew it and squandered a golden opportunity to get to 4-4. Instead, they’re 3-5 after losing two straight games.
This one hurts even more than last week’s loss to the 49ers because it’s one the Rams had in their grasp. They led from 7-3 and even held a 13-6 lead into the fourth quarter. The defense did its job for 59 minutes, but the final minute was one that drastically changed the Rams’ season.
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… Brady hit Cade Otton for a short touchdown pass with 9 seconds left, giving the Buccaneers a 16-13 lead.
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No. 3 star: Bobby Wagner – 13 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 blocked FG
No. 2 star: Aaron Donald – 3 tackles, 2 QB hits, 1 sack, 1 PBU
No. 1 star: Cooper Kupp – 8 catches, 127 yards, 1 TD
Kupp has been the Rams’ only consistent player on offense, and despite coming into this game with a lingering ankle injury, he wasn’t slowed down at all. Stafford connected with Kupp for a 69-yard touchdown in the first half, one of the Rams’ best and longest plays of the season.
It was also his 500th career reception.
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The Rams will return home to host the Cardinals in Week 10, their second time facing Arizona this season. The Cardinals are coming off a 31-21 loss to the Seahawks on Sunday, which dropped their record to 3-6 on the year.